Cigarette package case and opener



Nov. 19, 1935. N, VALLINOS 2,021,273

CIGARETTE PACKAGE CASE AND OPENER Filed July 27, 1934 Patented Nov. 19,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to cases for packages, with particular referenceto cigarette packages. One object of the invention is to provide a caseor holder for a package and improved means for opening the package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case for a package ofcigarettes or the like which is adapted to open the package in such amanner that the package is separable into two parts for easy access tothe contents of the package, especially where the package is thusseparated or opened longitudinally of the cigarettes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved case ofthe character described having a plurality of openable parts tofacilitate insertion of a package that snugly fits the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forcutting the wall of a package without damaging the contents of thepackage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thenature set forth having relatively few and simple parts, and which isinexpensive to manufacture, compact, neat in appearance, durable,reliable and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a device embodying the invention,including a typical use thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof substantially completelyopen and showing the package in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one section of the container before thelatter is assembled.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View of the device,showing thecutter means, and a part of the cigarette package.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the cutter means before beingassembled in the device.

Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 7 is an end View thereof.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same 5 may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merelyas showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes 10 a device embodying theinvention. The same includes a package holder which may be in the natureof a container or case I! that includes a plurality of sections, ofwhich one may be regarded as a cover. Preferably said sections I2, 15 53may be of equal size and may have a longitudinal opening l4 between thesections, the said opening being thus along the center of the containeralthough it may be variously located and in different containers, toguide a cutter means as hereinafter described.

The sections l2, [3 may be associated for movement relative to eachother as by being hingedly or swingably interconnected as by a hingeconnection at I5 at one side of the container. Thus 25 the sections areswingable toward and away from each other for closing and opening thecontainer. With the open position being as shown in Fig. 1, in theclosed position of the device, the sections l2, is are in register witheach other and the 30 rims of said sections are in alinement incorrespending planes, to provide a rectangular case of relativelyuniform appearance and construction.

The section l2 may have one of its long walls movable to open saidsection. For example, a wall It may be hingedly mounted at l l forswinging movement into open or closed position. The hinges l5 and I! maybe parallel but are desirably on opposite sides of the case, relativelyto each other, as can be understood by considering the case as in closedposition. In the latter position the section l2 may be said to have acontinuous rectangular rim l8. Said rim may be interrupted at oneportion by an outwardly bent lip IQ for a purpose hereinafter stated.

The container arrangement is such that on opening the same as shown inFig. 2, a package at of cigarettes or the like, may be insertedthereinto so as to closely fit the closed container. Since the section I2 and its cover l6 open and close in like directions, the manipulationin opening and closing the container is rapid and convenient, a singlemotion being sufiicient. It may be noted that the package 25 is insertedwith its ends at the ends of the container, and the ciga- 55 rettes orother elongated articles 2| lying lengthwise of the container andparallel to the plane of the container opening M.

The section I3 is provided with a guide rail 22 extending along the rimor edge 23 of the section. Said guide rail is disposed externally of thecase so as not to obstruct the interior thereof and is continuous alongthe ends and a side of the section l3 and extends partially along thehinge side thereof into relative proximity to the ends of the hinge i5.Desirably the guide rail may consist of a marginal bead as shown wherebythe maximum radius is obtained at the corners of the case.

Movable along the rim or guide rail is a means for weakening or cuttingthe adjacent wall of the package 28, as by perforating, marring or severing the same. Said means may be such as shown at 24, and may be in thenature of a plate 25 having a curved portion 2'! for engaging around theguide rail 22 for permanent slidable engagement therealong. The plate 25may include a cutter having one or more blades or edges 28, 29 that maybe parallel and transverse to the guide rail. The edge 28 forms theadvance or main cutter portion and the edge 29 the supplemental cutterportion to assure complete action or severance of the wall of thepackage 20 in course of a single movement of the means 24 along theguide rail 22.

The length of the edges 23, 29 may be such as to cause sufficientpenetration into the package to properly cut the wall thereof withoutdamaging the contents. To render further assurance in this respect, themeans 24 may be provided with a guide or presser element such as afinger 30 associated for movement with the cutter and spaced from but inrelative proximity to the cutter and projecting therebeyond into thepackage 20. Desirably the finger 3!) may be relatively blunt so as notto damage the delicate paper of the cigarettes.

The case i I may be maintained closed by coil springs such as'Sl, 32mounted on or forming a part of the respective hinges l5 and IT. Apositive lock closure may include a tongue 33 struck up from the plate25 and adapted to releasably slidably engage over the lip IS.

The operation of the device will now be briefiy described. A completestandard cigarette package having a soft paper wall is inserted into thedevice I!) by pulling the lid 16 rearward, causing both the lid andsection I2 to swing to facilitate insertion of the package. Then thedevice is closed by a reverse movement. During this time the cuttermeans is located at a corner of the device near an end of the hinge l5,where the package can readily clear the cutter as by slightly pressingin the adjacent corner of the package. Now the cutter means is movedalong the rail 22, as by manipulating the portion 21, the edges 28, 29penetrating the package wall and the finger, in its spaced relation,avoiding interference and rather simplifying said penetration bybuckling the paper. As soon as a slit is cut in the package by thecutter edges 28, 29, the finger 30, being in the plane thereof, springsinto the slit and slightly presses the cigarette away from the adjacentwall of the package, so that the cutter edges cannot reach thecigarettes. By continued movement of the cutter means, the cigarettepackage is cut in half along the ends and one side thereof, so that thepackage can now be opened with the case, as shown in Fig. 1. The wall ofthe package along the hinge l5 may remain intact, but is partiallybroken away to show the hinge [5. In this position, cigarettes can beconveniently withdrawn. To look the case, the device 24 is merely movedback until tongue 23 engages the lip l9.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same issubmitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope ofthe invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device including a container for snugly receiving a package, saidcontainer having a plurality of container sections swingablyinterconnected at one side for movement toward and away from each other,said container sections being in register and the rims thereof in substantial alinement with each other, in the closed position of thecontainer, one of said sections having a cutter means mounted formovement along a portion of the rim of said section, and the othersection having a wall on the opposite side of the container relative tothe said interconnection, said wall being movable to open and close thelast mentioned section.

2. A device including a case for snugly receiving a package, said caseincluding a plurality of sections in register with each other, saidsections being movable toward and away from each other to close and openthe case, said sections having their rims brought into juxtaposition toeach other in the closed position of the case, one of said sectionshaving an external guide rail ex tending along a portion of the rimthereof, and cutter means movably mounted on said guide rail andprojecting into the case between the said rims and adapted to sever thewall of said package, said cutter means including a plurality of bladesfor successive severing action.

3. A device including a container for snugly receiving a package, saidcontainer having a plurality of container sections swingablyinterconnected at one side for movement toward and away from each other,said container sections being in register and the rims thereof insubstantial alinement with each other, in the closed position of thecontainer, one of said sections having a cutter means mounted formovement along a portion of the rim of said section, and the r othersection having a wall on the opposite side of the container relative tothe said interconnection, said wall being movable to open and close thelast mentioned section, and said cutter means and said wall havingportions releasably interengageable in one position of the cutter meansto maintain the container closed.

4. A device including a container adapted to snugly receive a package,said container being divided into a plurality of sections hingedtogether at one side of the container, one of the sections having itsrim outwardly beaded along the ends and the opposite side so as toprovide a continuous external guide rail, means engaged with said guiderail for movement therealong and projecting into the container betweenthe sections thereof so as to be adapted to out a slit in an adjacentwall of the package, said means including a cutter to out said slit andan element to prevent said cutter from substantially damaging thepackage contents, said element and said cutter lying in a plane and theelement being spaced from said cutter edge but being in relativeproximity thereto, said element projecting beyond the cutter edge so asto be adapted to move the package contents away from the adjacentpackage wall, and the other section of the container having a wallmovable to permit a pack-age to be snugly inserted into the container inposition to be acted upon by the cutter, as set forth.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said cutter is provided withan offset portion, and said movable wall with a lip releasablyengageable by said portion.

6. A device including a container having a plurality of sectionsswingable toward and away from each other to open and close thecontainer, one of the sections having an external rail along the rimthereof, and means adapted to cut the wall of a package inserted intothe container, said means being mounted on said rail for movementtherealong.

7. A device including a container having a plurality of sectionsswingable toward and away from each other to open and close thecontainer, one of the sections having an external rail along the rimthereof continuously along the end walls and along a side wall oppositeto the interconnect-ion and a cutter mounted on said rail andcontinuously movable therealong for severing the wall of a package thatis snugly fitted into the container.

8. A device including a container having a plurality of sections movabletoward and away from each other to open and close the container, acutter mounted for movement along one of the sections adjacent to therim thereof, said cutter having a catch portion movable therewith, andthe other section having a part releasably engageable by said catchportion.

9. A device including a container adapted to snugly receive a package ofcigarettes, and means mounted in a wall of the container for movementtherealong, said means including a cutter having a cutting edge at anangle to said container wall and projecting inward thereof so as tosever an adjacent wall of the package on movement of the cutter, and afinger lineal with the cutter and disposed along an edge of the cutterrearward only of the cutting edge and projecting beyond the latter, thecutting edge being free of any obstruction, whereby the cutter isadapted to strongly penetrate the package wall to cut a slit thereinwith said finger entering the slit to press an adjacent cigarette awayfrom the cutting edge.

10. A device including an oblong container for snugly receiving apackage, said container having a plurality of generally rectangularcontainer sections swingably interconnected at one side for movementtoward and away from each other to close and open the container, saidcontainer sections being in register with the rims thereof insubstantially continuous engagement along a side and along the ends ofthe container in the closed position thereof, and one section having aone piece side wall swingable relatively thereto about a line parallelto and diagonally opposite to the swinging interconnection for thesection having the swingable side wall to open and close the section ofwhich said side wall forms a part, whereby the container sections can beswung toward each other to close the container, with the packageinitially inserted into one section, and the said side wall beingfinally closed to completely house the package.

11. A device including a container for snugly receiving a package, saidcontainer having a plurality of container sections swingablyinterconnected at a side for movement toward and away from each other,one of the sections having side, end and bottom walls continuouslypermanently interconnected in a substantially one piece structureadapted to snugly hold the package, the other of the sections having aside wall swing-able relatively thereto about a line parallel to saidswingable interconnection, whereby said container can be caused tosnugly house a package by successive movement of a section and of saidside Wall.

12. A device including a container for snugly receiving a package, saidcontainer having a plurality of container sections swingablyinterconnected at a side for movement toward and away from each other,one of the sections having side, end and bottom walls continuouslypermanently interconnected in a substantially one piece structureadapted to snugly hold the package, the other of the sections having aside wall swing-able relatively thereto about a line parallel to saidswingable interconnection, and being diagonally opposite to saidswingable interconnection with respect to the section having the movableside wall, as and for the purpose set forth.

NICHOLAS VALLINOS.

